Gamecocks Open Conference Play with 2-2 Draw

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s soccer team (5-3-1, 0-0-1) battled to a 2-2 draw with Georgia State (2-2-3, 0-0-1) to open Sun Belt Conference play Friday night (Sept. 19) at Stone Stadium.

The Gamecocks attempted 21 shots on the night with seven of them coming on target, while the Panthers managed 10 total shots and six shots on goal. Carolina also led in corner kicks 7-to-3. South Carolina goalkeeper Filip Versterre finished the night with four saves.

Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez put the Gamecocks on the board first, scoring in the 40th minute, with an assist from Mika Habel. Habel ripped a shot from outside the 18, and after a ricochet off a Panther defender, landed at the foot of Velazquez-Lopez who drilled it home into the top left corner. The Panthers answered two minutes later to tie the match going into halftime.

Early into the second half, Keanan Bader scored his first goal of the season in the 55th minute to give Carolina a 2-1 lead. Alejandro Velazquez-Lopez sent the corner into the box, where it bounced off a defender, and found Bader who was standing on the 18-yard box. While the ball was still in the air, Bader hammered it home into the bottom left corner. Georgia State responded to tie the match once again in the 65th minute.

GSU made one final push, but Versterre made a diving save with under 15 seconds to play to earn the Gamecocks a point in the conference standings.

Carolina wraps up its homestand Tuesday at 7 p.m. against Queens University Charlotte.

For the latest on men’s soccer, visit GamecocksOnline.com or follow the team’s social media accounts on Twitter @GamecockMSoccer, Facebook /GamecockMSoccer, and Instagram @GamecockMSoccer.